PSC seeks to boost biomass

Wednesday

Dec 26, 2007 at 12:01 AM

Associated Press

MONTGOMERY - Public Service Commission members hope a recent rate decrease for renewable energy will bring more customers into an obscure Alabama Power Co. biomass project, but some say the utility hasn't done enough to publicize the program.Susan Parker, one of three commission members, said the program could mean less reliance on fossil fuels."That in turn would lead to better national security, and make us not as dependent on natural gas and other (resources), and helps the environment improve," she told the Press-Register in a Tuesday story.The project is located in Gadsden and mixes coal with a small percentage of switchgrass, usually 5 to 7 percent. Experts believe the process could be promising in reducing emissions, and the utility hopes the lower rates will attract more participation. But the program has only attracted 215 buyers among a total customer base of 1.4 million. The utility has relied on flyers tucked into bills to promote the program. "Only one out of 48 knew about the program," said David Bransby, a professor of agronomy and soils at Auburn University and an expert on biopower who conducted focus groups on the program in 2005. "We asked about the ... flyers. They said `We don't read those. They go into the trash can."'The program allows residential customers to pay for the production of 100 kilowatt-hours of renewable energy each month for a $6 surcharge on top of the customer's regular bill.Under changes approved by the PSC on Dec. 4, residential customers will have the option of buying in at $2.25 per 50 kilowatt-hours, starting Jan. 1.Commercial and industrial customers will be included in the program for the first time, and can pay for 100 kwh blocks for $4.50. Those paying for the production of energy using the coal/biomass mix don't directly receive the electricity they paid to help produce - the energy is mixed into the overall energy grid.Biomass includes fuels like switchgrass and other organic materials. The U.S. Department of Energy says the Southeast has limited potential for wind power development due to generally calm weather. Solar power has more possibilities, but atmospheric conditions such as cloud cover make it less promising than in the Southwest.But Alabama Power's coal/biomass program remains small, limited to the one coal-generating plant. Biomass generated 308,000 kwh for Alabama Power in 2007, according to spokesman Michael Sznajderman. Bransby, who was critical of Alabama Power's marketing of the program, also suggested the program should lose its voluntary status, saying the benefits of reduced emissions would benefit the whole state.

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